Kavanaugh accuser demands FBI investigation before she testifies at hearing next week

Republicans are forging ahead with plans for a nationally televised Senate hearing on a woman's claims that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were high schoolers. One of those Republicans, Arizona senator Jeff Flake, tweeted Tuesday night: "When Dr. Ford came forward, I said that her voice should be heard and asked the Judiciary Committee to delay its vote on Judge Kavanaugh. Her email has been hacked, and she has been impersonated online", Katz and Banks said in their letter.

At the U.S. Capitol, Grassley said he was trying to get Ford to testify by Monday, publicly or privately. In just 15 hours, the campaign has brought in more than $68,000 from 2,125 people.

"She has nothing to gain from this except a clear conscience, which is a very powerful thing", said Samantha Guerry. "So if the senators who have come forward and said they want to treat this seriously mean that, then they will have an investigation of these allegations so that we all go into this more informed".

Christine Blasey Ford said that she would not testify next week, unless there is a proper FBI investigation first.

In a bombshell interview with The Washington Post on Sunday, Ford described how she was at a teenage party with Kavanaugh in 1982, when she was at Holton Arms and he went to Georgetown Prep.

The Republican president said he wanted the Senate confirmation process to play out.

Kavanaugh has denied the accusation.

The Republican leader criticized Democrats for sitting on the information during weeks of debate on Kavanaugh's nomination.

Earlier on Wednesday, CNN reported that a former classmate of Kavanaugh denied attending a high school party where the nominee is accused of assaulting Ford. Republicans said late Tuesday they were considering hiring outside attorneys, presumably including women, to question the witnesses.

He added that he wants to hear what Ford has to say about her accusations.

John Feehery, a Republican strategist, says the #MeToo movement is not just about justice - it's also about punishing those who have been in power for a long time. The agency conducted background checks six times over the years on Kavanaugh.

While Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the committee, has been criticized for how she's handled the allegations, she also expressed disappointment in Republicans and the Trump administration for "failing to take even the most basic steps to investigate this matter".

He has issued full-throated denials of all the allegations.

If the Judiciary committee's timetable slips, it would become increasingly hard for Republicans to schedule a vote before midterm elections on November 6 elections, when congressional control will be at stake.

So, do Republicans risk losing their chance to fill a pivotal Supreme Court seat that until days ago was within their reach by acquiescing to Ford's request?

Given the politics, given energized women voters, given the new climate about sexual harassment, "it's very important that they give due respect to Dr. Ford".